Seattle

Functional and Reconstructive Urology: A New Subspecialty or Rebranding

Brian J. Flynn, MD, defines functional and reconstructive urology and its place in future and existing urological practices. Dr. Flynn introduces functional and reconstructive urology as an area that focuses on disorders related to urinary and pelvic floor dysfunctions, such as urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and overactive bladder.

Dr. Flynn discusses the historical context of functional and reconstructive urology, explaining how aspects of functional urology and reconstructive urology have been present in urology for decades. He acknowledges that while the conditions treated are not new, the emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach and the incorporation of advanced diagnostics and therapeutic techniques justifies viewing functional and reconstructive urology as a distinct subspecialty, rather than a form of alternative medicine.
Dr. Flynn concludes by illustrating how functional and reconstructive urology impacts patient care and quality of life. He provides authoritative sources for continuing education in functional and reconstructive urology.

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Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Fernando J. Kim, MD, MBA, FACS, discusses the benefits of focal therapy in prostate cancer treatment. He begins with a review of the weaknesses of non-focal options in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Dr. Kim then highlights the clinical and practical benefits of focal therapy. He emphasizes the advantages that focal therapy offers to underserved and vulnerable populations, and he presents supporting data and demonstrations.

Dr. Kim concludes with a comparison of the results from mpMRI fusion biopsies and targeted cryoablation. He outlines possible future directions for focal therapy and other technologies in the treatment of prostate cancer.

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Priapism: How Do We Manage, and How Do We Learn How to Manage in 2024?

Thomas J. Walsh, MD, MBA, MS, discusses practical strategies for evaluating, diagnosing, and managing ischemic priapism. He begins with an overview of the symptoms, diagnosis, associated risks, and standard treatment procedures for the management of ischemic priapism.

Dr. Walsh then turns to effective treatment options after intracavernosal phenylephrine and corporal aspiration fail. He outlines various types of distal shunting, corporal tunneling, penoscrotal decompression, and early prosthesis placement.

Dr. Walsh concludes by addressing the lack of standardized training for treating ischemic priapism. He outlines a simulation curriculum designed to quickly train and presents the results from the pilot study.

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YouTube Surgeons – The Role of Video Learning in Urology

Ryan P. Terlecki, MD, FACS, explores current resources for lifelong learning and metrics for measuring success for urologic surgeons. He begins by reviewing the skills and technology-based challenges facing urologists today.

Dr. Terlecki explores the evolution of expectations and goals of medical education across generations. He reviews the history of surgical training from the Halsted Model to present day educational standards for continuous professional education, including the increasing ubiquity of video in daily practice.

Dr. Terlecki concludes by highlighting the benefits and dangers of using videos to train, provided that feedback from an expert source is incorporated in the training. He illustrates different models for trainees and established surgeons to improve their performance using a combination of expert insights and video analysis.

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Cannabis Use and Male Reproductive Health: Who Knew?

Thomas J. Walsh, MD, MBA, MS, discusses the impact of habitual cannabis use on male fertility and reproductive health. He begins by establishing the current landscape and demographics of cannabis users globally, and the mechanisms behind its popularity as a recreational and medicinal substance.

Dr. Walsh then discusses emerging data on the impacts of cannabis on male fertility. He explores the deleterious influence of cannabis on Anandamide (nM) production and sperm morphology.

Dr. Walsh concludes with an examination of his own prospective analysis on the fertility of men presenting at his clinic for reproductive issues after current or past cannabis use. He underscores the importance of counseling patients using the available evidence, and strongly recommends against cannabinoid use while planning for a family.

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